Edited on August 10th, 2020

| . . . C H A P T E R . . . 3.16 - Y E S - O R - N O . . . |

Today was New Year's Eve. I had been sprawled on the couch reading magazines, watching TV, having an easy day given no one was home. Anjali, Lavanya and Arnav had taken the kids to the fair. They asked me to come along but I insisted on staying home and get some much needed downtime

Martha had gone home to celebrate the Holidays with her family - Arnav had told me how he'll give her the time off whenever he'll visit. Even though there is a caretaker for the nights so Martha can go home and isn't spending all her time at the center, Arnav liked to give her the entire two weeks off. I understood that. Martha already did so much for the shelter. I doubt she took a single day off unless it was absolutely necessary.

At night, Arnav called me to tell me to get ready as we were going out for dinner. I somewhere knew this would happen. The two people at home who cooked were Anjali and Lavanya, and given both were out, there wasn't going to be any dinner ready for them when they returned.

Lavanya snatched the phone from Arnav, "And Khushi, don't just put on your normal jeans and a boring shirt. It's New Years' Eve. Wear a nice dress. Get something from my or Anjali di's bag."

I frowned, "Do I have to?"

"Yes." She snapped in a scolding tone, "You have 20 minutes before we pick you up."

I sighed, got up from the comfy couch, and made way to one of the guest rooms I'd occupied. I stood in front of my bag for barely five seconds before I left for Lavanya's room. As she said, use her bag. I obviously didn't have anything in mines that she would approve of.

. . . ∞ . ∞ . ∞ . ∞. . .

I stumbled over the stairs as I hesitantly forwarded my foot. The stairs were wobbly. "Just one more." Arnav said in my ear, as he guided my shoulders forward.

"I swear if I stumble one more time, I am going to remove this blindfold." I informed in an irritated voice. I was already an impatient person. He knew that! I wasn't understanding this. We were supposed to go for dinner. But, as soon as I had gotten in the car, Aarav had jumped up from the back seat and tied a cloth over my eyes. I asked the kid what this childishness was, but he had scolded me that wanting to give a surprise wasn't childish.

It's crazy, if you ask me.

I heard waves crashing. Sea salt. Sniffing narrowed down my assumptions. "Did you bring me to the beach? Arnav, that's not a surprise place!"

"Hush." He commanded the whisper in my ear. The low voice sent a shiver down my spine, snapping my mouth shut. An alarm on my phone went off. What? I hadn't put any reminders on my phone for anything. "Go ahead. Check it."

My breath caught, realizing this was the reminder he had set on my phone.

With trembling hands and goosebumps all over my skin from the anticipation, I pulled the blindfold down to hang around my neck. I blinked the darkness away to adjust to the dull brightness from the setting sun.

The event was saved under the name of 'Yes or No?'

Narrowing my eyes in confusion, I murmured. "What?" I turned to look for Arnav, but had to glance down after doing a 180.

He was on one knee holding a red velvet ring box in his hand. His other hand popped it open.

I gasped, realizing what was happening. We were at the beach by the Princes Pier. Where he first touched my soul and the place where I might as well have fallen for him - if I hadn't been stubborn back then and had allowed myself to accept that the night I told him about my past changed things between us.

"Khushi, I've made you wait a long time in answering your question 'what do I want'. And here it is... This is what I want. Years ago, it was on New Years' at this beach where I decided I could no longer stay in the shadows and look out for you. It's only fitting that when I ask this, I ask at the same spot at the same beach where it all..."

I cut him off in anticipation. "Just ask, Arnav." As much as I cared for his explanation and even thought of the perfect time and place touched my heart, I was an impatient being and he knew that very well.

He laughed at the urgency in my tone but still continued, "I want you to spend not just this New Years, but however many more to come with me. Will you marry me?"

Damn it, I was trying not to cry, but I could not believe he had planned this since such a long time ago. Atleast from last two months ago that I knew of.

'Yes or No?'

It made perfect sense.

We weren't just on the beach. We were on a yacht. A huge one. A path of red roses from the stairs till the center where we were standing, ending in a circle around us. The sun setting right then. I bet he even looked up the time for sun set beforehand to time this perfectly.

"Yes." I whispered, frantically nodding. "Till the end."

He didn't even have to do all of this. He could have asked me in our boring old room, or even in the middle of a crowded street with no prior arrangement or romantic setting and my answer would have been the same.

Still, the fact that he went to such length for me made this so much more special.

The happiest smile I had ever seen passed over his eyes hearing my answer. He had to know my answer wouldn't have been anything else. He plucked the diamond out of the box and held out his hand. I slipped mine into his, reveling his soft touch as they met.

I jumped a bit when suddenly, there were sounds of cheers and applause behind me. What the-? Just as the ring slipped on the same finger as the engagement ring, my hand suddenly feeling heavy under the weight of both the rocks, I turned around to see the closest people to both of us. Armaan, Riddhima, Anjali, Aarav, Annie, Jennifer, Lavanya, Kripa, and Angad.

I gave Arnav a questioning glace for Armaan, Riddhima and Angad were supposed to be back in Mumbai. Arnav must have asked them to be here, knowing what their presence meant to me.

Armaan yelled, "Cap, let it sail!"

My heart leapt when suddenly, the yatch set sail in the waters. "Are you serious?"

Arnav chuckled, taking me into a hug. "Why get a yatch if you aren't going to sail in it?"

I pulled back, "Wait, don't tell me you bought this?!"

"I even named it after you." He confirmed. "Sweet pea."

I muttered under my breath fighting a grin, "I would yell at you right now if I also didn't find the gesture sweet and freaking romantic."

He threw his arms around me again, squeezing my tiny pea like frame to his hard body. "I'd prefer you not yell at me."

Angad pulled us apart with his yell. "Alright, Raizadas! Let's celebrate the first marriage of our group!!"

Kripa rolled her eyes, "They're not married, you idiot."

"I know that! Emotions, babe. Emotions." He dumped an arm over her shoulder.

Arnav suggested in my ear, "Maybe we should just elope?"

I offered an alternative, "We could just throw them overboard."

"Hey!" They all exclaimed, glaring.

"Then stop bickering like kids!" I scolded them right back. "And we'll get married when we want to. Leave us alone."

Anjali pointed out, "We've already waited three years!"

Arnav sided with her, "Actually, sweet pea, even I would like for us to get married. I can't wait any more to make you Mrs. Raizada."

I passed it off as a joke, "Oh, fine. I guess I don't have any other choice when all of you gang up on me."

He shook his head in amusement at my dramatic nature, grinning and giving me a deep kiss.

. . . ∞ . ∞ . ∞ . ∞. . .

Given I couldn't drink, everyone brought out the champagne but Armaan passed me his favorite: apple cider. We cheered, clanking our glasses together before taking sips.

"Dance with me."

So, even though there wasn't music playing, I slid my hand into his.

Love, my friends, is like music that never stops playing.

Even without music playing from some live instrument or an electronic device, you can hear it. Feel it in your veins.

A few minutes later, a song was played on the phone. I recognized it immediately. Jab koi baat bigad jaaye. My favorite. The song I had played the night I had confessed my love to Arnav. My neck twisted around to catch the phone in Armaan's hands. He gave me his joyful, dimpled smile letting me know how happy he was for me.

Arnav whispered in my ear, "Am I going to have to compete with your brother even today?"

I pulled my attention back to him with a chuckle. His eyes were dancing with love and mischief. "You're in a whole different universe for me, Arnav." I rested my forehead against his, letting my eyes close and simply reveled in the feeling. "My own universe."

"Keeping me all to yourself. Selfish, ain't it?" He dared mock me for which I swatted his shoulder after reopening my eyes. His lips twitched further in a deeper grin and he dipped his head while I tilted mines up into a passionate kiss that had all air leaving my lungs.

I didn't know who, but someone complained after a few seconds. "Get a room!"

"Shut up." I replied to whoever it was meant for, lips still against Arnav's. He grinned in response and lifted me off the floor, a squeal escaping my throat. Few more seconds later, both of us were assaulted by the rose petals gathered off the floor and being showered over us.

Laughing, we pulled away from the kiss.

"Even when I propose, our romance is doomed." Arnav complained in humor.

Our friends like family. What were we to do of them?

I answered with a wink, "We have the whole night."

He corrected, "Our whole lives."

. . . ∞ . ∞ . ∞ . ∞. . .